Image processing apparatus and image processing system for obtaining physical information from wearable terminal

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus includes: a storage unit that stores additional processing information which is processing information associated with physical information of a physical information terminal which a user wears, the additional processing information being transmitted from a user terminal that generates the processing information according to an instruction from the user; a first receiving unit that receives the physical information from the physical information terminal; and an execution unit, in a case where the physical information received by the first receiving unit matches the physical information of the additional processing information stored in the storage unit, executes a process corresponding to the processing information included in the additional processing information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2018-053956 filed Mar. 22, 2018.

BACKGROUND (i) Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and animage processing system.

(ii) Related Art

JP2016-149003A discloses an information processing apparatus capable ofcommunicating with a user terminal. The information processing apparatusincludes a receiving section which receives bio-information which theuser terminal obtains from the user carrying the user terminal, from theuser terminal, a user authentication processing section which executes auser authentication process of the user carrying the user terminal basedon the bio-information received from the receiving section, and aninformation processing section which provides an information processingfunction based on a result of the user authentication process by theuser authentication processing section.

JP2017-108316A discloses an image processing system including a terminaldevice which a user wears and uses and an image output device whichexecutes an output process of outputting an image according to aninstruction from the user. The terminal device includes an obtainingsection which obtains physical attributes from the user. The terminaldevice or the image output device includes an authenticating sectionwhich executes an authentication process of authenticating the userbased on the physical attributes obtained by the obtaining sectionbefore the output process is executed. The image output device includesan output processing section which executes the output process in a casewhere the user is authenticated by the authenticating section.

SUMMARY

Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate toan image processing apparatus and an image processing system capable ofmore easily performing a confidential process as compared with using anauthentication system.

Aspects of certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosureovercome the above disadvantages and other disadvantages not describedabove. However, aspects of the non-limiting embodiments are not requiredto overcome the disadvantages described above, and aspects of thenon-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may not overcome anyof the problems described above.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided animage processing apparatus including: a storage unit that storesadditional processing information which is processing informationassociated with physical information of a physical information terminalwhich a user wears, the additional processing information beingtransmitted from a user terminal that generates the processinginformation according to an instruction from the user; a first receivingunit that receives the physical information from the physicalinformation terminal; and an execution unit, in a case where thephysical information received by the first receiving unit matches thephysical information of the additional processing information stored inthe storage unit, executes a process corresponding to the processinginformation included in the additional processing information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention will be described indetail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imageprocessing apparatus and an image processing system according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an additional processinginformation generating process in a user terminal according to theexemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an additional processinginformation executing process in the image processing apparatusaccording to the exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An image processing apparatus and an image processing system accordingto the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of an image processingsystem 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustratedin FIG. 1, the image processing system 1 is configured to include animage processing apparatus 10, a user terminal 30, and a physicalinformation terminal 50. The image processing apparatus 10 is an imageprocessing apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. Theimage processing apparatus 10 and the user terminal 30 are connectedwith each other via a network 70. FIG. 1 illustrates a state in whichone image processing apparatus 10 and one user terminal 30 are connectedto the network 70, but the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto.Each of the image processing apparatus 10 and the user terminal 30 maybe plural. In addition, although the aspect of the network 70 is notparticularly limited thereto, as an example in the present exemplaryembodiment, the network 70 is configured with a wired or wireless localarea network (LAN).

The image processing apparatus 10 according to the present exemplaryembodiment is an apparatus including an image processing function suchas an image forming apparatus (printer), a multi-function machineintegrated with a scanner function, a facsimile function, a copyfunction, and the like on the printer. In the present exemplaryembodiment, the image forming apparatus will be described as an example.

The physical information terminal 50 is a terminal device which a userputs on (wears) and uses. Although the aspect of the physicalinformation terminal 50 is not particularly limited thereto, an exampleof the physical information terminal 50 is a wearable terminal, a smartphone, an identification card (ID card), or the like. The wearableterminal is used as an example of the physical information terminal 50according to the present exemplary embodiment. The wearable terminal isused without being limited to a clock type, a glasses type, and the likeas the aspect of the wearable terminal. The physical informationterminal 50 includes an antenna 52 which always or intermittentlytransmits a signal indicating information (hereinafter, “physicalinformation”) related to physical attributes of the user who wears thephysical information terminal 50 so as to distinguish between aplurality of users. As long as “physical information” according to thepresent exemplary embodiment is a signal for distinguishing between theusers such as iris information of the user, fingerprint information ofthe user, location information of the user, or the like, the physicalinformation is not limited thereto. The location information of the useris, for example, seat location information of the user. The locationinformation is represented as, for example, coordinates on a map. Thephysical information transmitted by the physical information terminal 50is not limited one. For example, the physical information may be aplurality of pieces of physical information such as iris information andlocation information. By setting the plurality of pieces of physicalinformation, it becomes more reliable to specify the user.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 10 includes ajob obtaining unit 12, a job managing unit 14, a job receiving unit 16,a job executing unit 18, a physical information terminal communicatingunit 20, and a physical information terminal approach detecting unit 22.

The physical information terminal communicating unit 20 includes anantenna 24 and receives the physical information mostly transmitted fromthe physical information terminal 50. The physical information receivedby the physical information terminal communicating unit 20 is notlimited to one and may be plural. In a case where the received physicalinformation is plural, it becomes more reliable to specify the user asdescribed above. As an example, communication with the physicalinformation terminal 50 is performed by using a short-range wirelesscommunication method. An example of the short-range wirelesscommunication method used in the present exemplary embodiment is nearfield communication (NFC), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or thelike.

The physical information terminal approach detecting unit 22 detects theapproaching user who wears the physical information terminal 50 bycommunicating with the physical information terminal 50 in the physicalinformation terminal communicating unit 20. For example, the approachinguser is detected by using an intensity of a radio field received by thephysical information terminal communicating unit 20 from the physicalinformation terminal 50 or by using a signal of a GPS included in eachof the physical information terminal communicating unit 20 and thephysical information terminals 50. In the present exemplary embodiment,as an example, the approaching user is detected by using the intensityof the radio field received by the physical information terminalcommunicating unit 20 from the physical information terminal 50. In acase where the approaching user is detected, the physical informationterminal approach detecting unit 22 notifies the job obtaining unit 12of the approach of the user.

The job receiving unit 16 receives additional processing informationtransmitted from the user terminal 30 via the network 70. As describedabove, the additional processing information according to the presentexemplary embodiment is information obtained by associating informationto be processed by the image processing apparatus 10 with the physicalinformation. Hereinafter, in some cases, the additional processinginformation is referred to as “job”. “Job” according to the presentexemplary embodiment is a unit of a process executed by the imageprocessing apparatus 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, an imageforming process (presswork or print) will be described as an example ofthe job of the image processing apparatus 10.

The job managing unit 14 is a memory unit which stores a job and thelike transmitted from the user terminal 30 and is configured by, forexample, a hard disk drive (HDD), a random access memory (RAM), and thelike. In some cases, the job managing unit 14 may also store imageprocessing information other than the job transmitted from the userterminal 30, for example, image information or the like read by ascanner. The job managing unit 14 is an example of “storage unit”.

In a case of receiving a notification of the approach of the user fromthe physical information terminal approach detecting unit 22, the jobobtaining unit 12 obtains a job which the approaching user transmits tothe image processing apparatus 10 via the network 70, from the jobmanaging unit 14 by using the physical information received from thephysical information terminal 50. Specifically, the job associated withthe physical information which matches the physical information receivedby the physical information terminal communicating unit 20, is extractedfrom the job managing unit 14.

The job executing unit 18 executes the job obtained by the job obtainingunit 12. In a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied (forexample, case where predetermined approach condition is satisfied) otherthan the case of executing the job immediately after the userapproaches, the job executing unit 18 executes the job obtained by thejob obtaining unit 12.

The user terminal 30 generates the job which the user executes in theimage processing apparatus 10. Although the aspect of the user terminal30 is not particularly limited thereto, a personal computer (PC), apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet terminal, or the like may beused as an example. In the present exemplary embodiment, it is assumedthat the user terminal 30 is a PC as an example. In some cases, forexample, the user terminal 30 is plural corresponding to each of theplurality of users or one user terminal 30 is shared by the plurality ofusers. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the user terminal 30 includes aphysical information terminal communicating unit 38 and a physicalinformation terminal registering unit 42 to which a user operating unit32, a job generating unit 34, a job transmitting unit 36, and an antenna40 are connected.

The physical information terminal communicating unit 38 communicateswith the physical information terminal 50 which the user wears andmostly receives the physical information. As an example, communicationwith the physical information terminal 50 is performed by using ashort-range wireless communication method. An example of the short-rangewireless communication method used in the present exemplary embodimentis NFC, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like.

The user operating unit 32 includes, for example, a liquid crystalscreen, a keyboard, and the like, and is used as an interface in a casewhere the user generates the job.

The job generating unit 34 generates processing information (printprocessing information in present exemplary embodiment) based on theinstruction input by the user operating the user operating unit 32. Inaddition, the job generating unit 34 obtains the physical informationfrom the physical information terminal communicating unit 38. In thecase of generating the processing information, the job generating unit34 generates the additional processing information (job) by associatingthe physical information with the generated processing information.

The job transmitting unit 36 transmits the job generated by the jobgenerating unit 34 to the image processing apparatus 10 via the network70.

The physical information terminal registering unit 42 registers the userterminal 30 and the physical information terminal 50 in correspondencewith each other. For example, in a case where the user terminal 30 isshared by the plurality of users, a plurality of physical informationterminals 50 may be registered in one user terminal 30. The physicalinformation of the user is registered in association with each of thephysical information terminals 50 registered in the physical informationterminal registering unit 42. A timing of registering the physicalinformation terminal 50 in the physical information terminal registeringunit 42 may be a timing when the physical information terminal 50 isregistered in advance before the user uses the user terminal 30 or maybe a timing when the physical information terminal 50 is automaticallyregistered in the case where the user uses the user terminal 30.

Here, in the viewpoint of maintaining security, a confidential process(outputting processing result in state in which no one else knows) isalso required in the image processing apparatus. However, in theconfidential process of the image processing apparatus in the relatedart, it is necessary to set, register, and manage authenticationinformation for each of the users. In addition, also in a case where theuser executes the confidential process in the image processingapparatus, it is necessary to designate the process via a UI unit or thelike of the image processing apparatus in addition to an authenticationoperation and the execution is very complicated. Accordingly, it is alsorequired in the image processing apparatus that the confidential processis performed with a simpler configuration.

On the other hand, for example, in a case where the user executes awrong process by simply approaching the image processing apparatus or ina case where the wrong process is executed in a state in which there isanother person other than the user near the image processing apparatus,the confidential process is invalid. In the present exemplaryembodiment, the user terminal adds the physical information to the joband in a case where the image processing apparatus receives the physicalinformation, the job to which the physical information is added, isexecuted. Accordingly, it possible to more easily perform theconfidential process as compared with using an authentication system.

An additional processing information generating process executed by theuser terminal 30 according to the present exemplary embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating aflow of the present additional processing information generating processprogram. The present additional processing information generatingprocess program is stored in, for example, a memory unit such as a readonly memory (ROM) (not illustrated) of the user terminal 30 and isdeveloped into a RAM or the like by a central processing unit (CPU) andexecuted. In the additional processing information generating processillustrated in FIG. 2, the user starts to input a print job executed bythe image processing apparatus 10 using the user terminal 30.

In step S100, the physical information terminal communicating unit 38 iscontrolled to obtain “physical information” which is information foridentifying the user (physical information terminal 50). The physicalinformation according to the present exemplary embodiment is notparticularly limited thereto as long as the physical information isphysical information capable of identifying the user. For example, irisinformation, fingerprint information, location information of the user,and the like are used. In the present exemplary embodiment, as anexample of the physical information of the user, iris information of theuser is used. A timing of obtaining the physical information is, forexample, a timing when communication between the physical informationterminal communicating unit 38 of the user terminal 30 and the physicalinformation terminal 50 is established. After step S100, there may beprovided a step in which whether or not the obtained physicalinformation is registered in the physical information terminalregistering unit 42 is confirmed. According to the confirming step, itbecomes more reliable to check the user.

In step S102, the job generating unit 34 is controlled so as to generatethe additional processing information (job) by adding the physicalinformation obtained in step S100 to the print processing informationexecuted by the image processing apparatus 10. Specifically, thephysical information is included in page description language (PDL) datagenerated for the printing process. A timing of adding the physicalinformation to the processing information is, for example, a timing whenthe user starts to input the processing information generation or atiming which the processing information generation is completed. In thepresent exemplary embodiment, as an example, a method of directly addingthe physical information to the processing information executed by theimage processing apparatus 10 is described, but the method is notlimited thereto. The processing information and the physical informationmay be stored in association with each other (in pairs) in a memory unitsuch as an HDD or the like (not illustrated) of the user terminal 30.

In step S104, the job transmitting unit 36 is controlled so as totransmit the job generated in step S102 to the image processingapparatus 10. As the generation of the job is completed, the jobtransmitting unit 36 may automatically transmit the job. By displayingan idle screen for the user on the UI unit or the like (notillustrated), the transmission may be performed according to aninstruction of the user.

Next, an additional processing information executing process executed bythe image processing apparatus 10 according to the present exemplaryembodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is aflowchart illustrating a flow of the present additional processinginformation executing process. The present additional processinginformation executing process program is stored in, for example, amemory unit such as a ROM (not illustrated) of the image processingapparatus 10 and is developed into a RAM or the like by a CPU andexecuted. In the additional processing information executing processillustrated in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the user already transmits thejob from the user terminal 30 to the image processing apparatus 10 viathe network 70.

In step S200, the physical information terminal approach detecting unit22 is controlled so as to wait until the physical information terminal50 (user) approaches. In a case of detecting the approaching physicalinformation terminal 50, the process moves to step S202.

Here, as described above, the approaching user is detected based on thephysical information terminal communicating unit 20 communicating withthe physical information terminal 50. That is, as an example, thephysical information terminal approach detecting unit 22 receives aradio field intensity of a transmission signal transmitted from thephysical information terminal 50, from the physical information terminalcommunicating unit 20 and detects the approach in the case where theradio field intensity is equal to or larger than a predetermined value.The detection is not limited thereto. For example, each of the physicalinformation terminal 50 and the physical information terminalcommunicating unit 20 includes a GPS function and in a case where adifference between the GPS signal of the physical information terminal50 and the GPS signal of the physical information terminal communicatingunit 20 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, theapproaching user may be detected.

In step S202, whether or not an approach state is continued (maintained)for a predetermined period (time) or longer is determined. In a casewhere the determination is positive, it is determined that the userintentionally approaches the image processing apparatus 10 to use theimage processing apparatus 10 and the process moves to step S204. On theother hand, in a case where the determination is negative, it isdetermined that the approach of the user is released and the processreturns to step S200 to continue detecting the approach of the physicalinformation terminal 50.

In step S204, whether or not another physical information terminal 50(user) approaches is determined. In the same manner as step S200, thephysical information terminal approach detecting unit 22 receives aradio field intensity of a transmission signal transmitted from thephysical information terminal 50, from the physical information terminalcommunicating unit 20 and executes the determination. In a case wherethe determination is positive, the process moves to step S200. That is,in a case where the plurality of approaching users are detected, theuser who uses the image processing apparatus 10 is not specified and thephysical information is not obtained. This is because the job to beexecuted in the image processing is a job of any one of the users, butsince the plurality of physical information terminals 50 are detected,the user of the job to be processed is not specified. In addition, forexample, this is because there is a possibility that in a case where thejob of the first approaching user is executed, print contents isvisually recognized by the user who is not related to the job. That is,the confidential process of the job is damaged.

In step S206, the physical information terminal communicating unit 20 iscontrolled so as to obtain the physical information from the approachingphysical information terminal 50.

In step S208, the job managing unit 14 is controlled so as to determinewhether or not the job (additional processing information) to which thephysical information which matches the physical information obtained instep S206 is added, exists in the job managing unit 14. In a case wherethe determination is negative, the process returns to step S200 tocontinue detecting the approach of the physical information terminal 50.In a case where the determination is positive, the process moves to stepS210.

In step S210, the job obtaining unit 12 is controlled so as to obtainwhether or not the job (additional processing information) to which thephysical information which matches the physical information obtained instep S206 is added, from the job managing unit 14.

In step S212, the job managing unit 14 is controlled so as to determinewhether or not a predetermined period (time) elapses since the job(additional processing information) is stored in the job managing unit14. In a case where the determination is positive, the process returnsto step S200, that is, the job is not executed. For example, in a casewhere the physical information terminal 50 and the user terminal 30 areshared by the plurality of users, further in a case where thepredetermined period elapses since the job is stored in the job managingunit 14, it is apprehended that a correspondence between the user andthe job may be ambiguous. In addition, the amount of storage in the jobmanaging unit 14 of the image processing apparatus 10 is suppressed fromexceeding a certain scale. On the other hand, in a case where thedetermination is negative, the process moves to step S214.

In step S214, the printing process which is a process corresponding tothe processing information included in the job (additional processinginformation), is executed. At this time, the executable job may bedisplayed on the UI unit or the like (not illustrated) of the imageprocessing apparatus 10 and the image processing apparatus 10 waits foran instruction to start execution from the user.

In step S216, in a case where it is determined that an end instructionexists and the determination is negative, the process returns to stepS200 to continue detecting the approach of the physical informationterminal 50. In a case where the determination is positive, the presentadditional processing information executing process program is ended.The end instruction in step S216 is, for example, a case where a powerof the image processing apparatus 10 is turned off.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the embodiment in which thephysical information terminal 50 and the user terminal 30 are separatedis described, but the embodiment is not limited thereto and the physicalinformation terminal 50 and the user terminal 30 may be integrated. Forexample, in a case where the user terminal 30 is a terminal which theuser carries such as a tablet terminal or the like, the physicalinformation terminal 50 and the user terminal 30 are shared with eachother. That is, the physical information of the user is stored in amemory unit (not illustrated) of the user terminal 30. In a case wherethe user terminal 30 transmits the job, the physical information is readfrom the memory unit and associated with the processing information. Inthe case where the user carries the user terminal 30 and approaches theimage processing apparatus 10, the job may be executed.

In addition, each of the processes executed by the user terminal 30 andthe image processing apparatus 10 according to each of the presentexemplary embodiments described above may be recorded and distributed ina memory section as a program to be executed by a computer.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: astorage unit that stores additional processing information which isprocessing information associated with physical information of aphysical information terminal which a user wears, the additionalprocessing information being transmitted from a user terminal thatreceives the physical information from the physical information terminaland in a case where the physical information is received, generates theprocessing information for executing a process for image processingrequired by the user according to an instruction from the user; and afirst processor, configured to: receive the physical information fromthe physical information terminal; and in a case where the receivedphysical information matches the physical information of the additionalprocessing information stored in the storage unit, execute the processcorresponding to the processing information included in the additionalprocessing information.
 2. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the first processor detects approach of the user, thefirst processor, in a case where the approach of the user is detected,receives the physical information from the physical informationterminal.
 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the first processor, in a case where a distance between thephysical information terminal and the image processing apparatus isshorter than a predetermined distance, detects the approach.
 4. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the firstprocessor obtains the distance between the physical information terminaland the image processing apparatus by using a communication signal ofthe first processor with the physical information terminal.
 5. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first processor,in a case of detecting that approach of the user continues for apredetermined period, receives the physical information from thephysical information terminal.
 6. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein the first processor, in a case ofdetecting approach of a plurality of the users, does not receive thephysical information from any of the physical information terminals. 7.The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the firstprocessor, in a case of detecting approach of a plurality of the users,does not receive the physical information from any of the physicalinformation terminals.
 8. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the first processor, in a case of detecting thatapproach of the user continues for a predetermined period, receives thephysical information from the physical information terminal.
 9. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the firstprocessor, in a case of detecting approach of a plurality of the users,does not receive the physical information from any of the physicalinformation terminals.
 10. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the first processor, in a case of detecting approach ofa plurality of the users, does not receive the physical information fromany of the physical information terminals.
 11. The image processingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first processor, in a caseof detecting that approach of the user continues for a predeterminedperiod, receives the physical information from the physical informationterminal.
 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11,wherein the first processor, in a case of detecting approach of aplurality of the users, does not receive the physical information fromany of the physical information terminals.
 13. The image processingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first processor, in a caseof detecting approach of a plurality of the users, does not receive thephysical information from any of the physical information terminals. 14.The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the firstprocessor, in a case where a predetermined period elapses since theadditional processing information is stored in the storage unit, doesnot execute the process corresponding to the processing informationincluded in the additional processing information.
 15. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the physicalinformation is at least one of iris information, fingerprintinformation, or location information of the user.
 16. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a displayunit that displays information on the execution of the processinginformation, wherein the first processor, when executing the processcorresponding to the processing information, causes the display unit todisplay an image for prompting confirmation of a start of the process.17. An image processing system comprising: the image processingapparatus according to claim 1; a physical information terminal that auser wears and includes an antenna which transmits physical informationof the user; and a user terminal that includes a second processor,configured to: receive the physical information from the physicalinformation terminal, generate processing information for executing aprocess for image processing required by the user according to aninstruction from the user, in a case where the physical information isreceived, generate additional processing information in which thephysical information is associated with the processing information, andtransmit the additional processing information to the image processingapparatus, wherein the image processing apparatus executes the processcorresponding to the processing information included in the additionalprocessing information after receiving the additional processinginformation.
 18. The image processing system according to claim 17,wherein the second processor registers the user terminal and thephysical information terminal in correspondence with each other, andwherein the second processor, in a case where the physical informationterminal that transmits the physical information received by the secondprocessor is registered, generates the additional processinginformation.
 19. The image processing system according to claim 17,wherein the user terminal further includes a memory unit, and whereinthe second processor stores the processing information and the physicalinformation in pairs in the memory unit and generates the additionalprocessing information by reading the processing information and thephysical information in pairs from the memory unit when generating theadditional processing information.
 20. The image processing systemaccording to claim 17, wherein the physical information terminal and theuser terminal are integrally configured.